Pharaess Cleopatra: Hi everyone! It's me again with an awesome new story with one of my favorite ships - prideshipping! For those of you who don't know, it's basically the canon ship of Yu-Gi-Oh with Yami Yugi (Atem in this case) and Seto Kaiba. In this story, Yami and Yugi are only half-brothers, but I'll explain that later. For now, let's get on with this story I'm so excited to share with you all! Hope you enjoy! Ciao for now!
Chapter 1: First Day Black and Blues
Seto Kaiba, a usually cruel and harsh seventeen year old, who would be eighteen soon, was attending a new school in a small area known as Domino City, enrolling into Domino High. He was a bit nervous attending such a small school compared to all his others that were very large and "glamorous," and that term is used lightly. For some reason, the thought of getting noticed by everyone, knowing his name and family, seemed far more terrifying than that of being lost amongst the crowd of all the other private schools he had been to, but he insisted on this one. He didn't care if it was his senior year, he just wanted to be treated like an equal, like he didn't have to live up to that name at a normal school. It seemed too much to ask for, but his mother and father were thrilled over the idea of him and his little brother, Mokuba joining Domino High since that was where they had moved yet again. However, instead of his father choosing one of the private schools in Domino, Seto asked to join this one, Domino High, to try and go to a normal school for once. So what if he was a Kaiba? That seemed to be the least of his worries – his name... The only thing he cared about was being a normal student for once in his life instead of getting pampered at all the others. How he'd grown tired of that life, but his parents always wanted to go overboard on everything... Though, when Seto suggested this school, insisting he wanted to attend this one, his parents allowed it, happy their son finally spoke up for a change on what he actually wanted. However, among all else, he was still nervous, but hid that well. Better to hide your weaknesses than to let your enemies use them to their best advantage, right?
The teen took a deep breath as he climbed out of his royal blue sports car with someone following close behind. Seto had short chocolate brown hair that framed fierce icy blue eyes, dressed in a dark blue, long sleeve, button up shirt, a few of the buttons on top undone; black jeans; a black belt around his waist; and black shoes. With a hand in his pocket and his bag over one shoulder, the teen made his way towards the building, his brother, who had shaggy black hair and dark blue eyes, followed closely behind.
"Wait for me, Seto!" Mokuba called.
"Then hurry up. You've got your own classes to get to as well, you know."
"I know that!" He huffed lightly. "But I still don't want you to leave me behind."
"You know that won't happen, Mokuba. You are one of the closest people to me, remember?"
"Yeah, now if only we could get you to act that way with your next girlfriend, or boyfriend." He nudged his older brother with a smirk, who brushed it off by rolling his eyes.
"One time, okay? One freaking time and now both you and Mom are haunting me with that. What the hell did I do to deserve this...? And on top of that, it was a damn accident."
"Maybe you should be less clumsy and more careful next time, huh?" He smirked wider. "Plus, it happened twice, might I add, one with a girl and the other with a boy."
"I hope you know that both of those times were your fault since you were the one who pushed me."
Mokuba shrugged. "Believe what you will, brother, but we're still gonna hold that over you until you actually kiss someone properly, and not make us do the work."
"I was going to..."
"Yeah, sure you were..." He nudged his brother again as they entered the building, getting many stares from the other students around, but they ignored them.
"Shut up and get to class..." He playfully shoved his brother, who laughed.
"Aww, you're just pissy 'cause you can get anyone you want, but can't kiss them like a man!"
"I said shut up, Mokuba!" He hissed, though not harshly. "Get to class before I cut you down a few sizes!"
"Eep!" He squeaked before running off. "I'll see ya later, Seto!" The boy called as he ran off, Seto giving a long sigh, but continued on his way.
"That kid can be such a pain in the ass sometimes..." He muttered under his breath as he approached his first classroom.
Well, it was now or never...
Yami Atem sat at his desk, writing furiously on his paper to finish it before he was supposed to turn it in. His teacher had asked why he hadn't finished it, and he gave a simple "I forgot," though they both knew he was lying through his teeth as the woman gave him a worried look, but didn't press, for she didn't want to intrude if she knew he wouldn't talk. Suddenly though, as Yami wrote at quick speeds, the sound of the door opened, glancing up to see if it was just another student, until he had to do a double-take. Yami gazed up again to see a boy with short, chocolate brown hair and sky blue eyes that seemed to hold some sort of coldness to them. Wait a sec, Yami would've remember a student like this in his class... Could be the new kid everyone's been buzzing about lately? The two met gazes for a mere few seconds before Yami ignored him completely, going back to his work. Yami himself had outrageously spiky black hair trimmed with a crimson red, blonde bangs framing his angular face and fanning up into the rest of his hair. However, behind those golden locks in his face were crimson red eyes – a rare color for someone who was Japanese. It was then the teacher, Mrs. Ryoto noticed the newcomer enter the room as she beamed.
"Oh! You must be the new student, Seto Kaiba, correct?" She asked in a chipper voice.
He gave a nod.
"Wonderful! I've heard many great things about you, Seto so I believe you'll do just fine. But let me see where I can put you... Hmm... Oh! How about here?" She pointed to an empty seat in the third row, dangerously close to where Yami sat in the front row.
"Alright." He shrugged lightly.
"Will that be alright for you, or do you need to be closer?"
"No, no, this one is fine." He reassured.
"Okay, I just want to be sure. But if you're alright with sitting there, then you go right ahead. Just let me know if you need to move closer, alright?"
"Will do." He said before taking his seat, slipping his bag off his shoulder only to set it on the floor, but as he took his seat, he couldn't help but stare at Yami. Not only did his hair fascinate him, but those eyes. God, those eyes...
Red eyes...? Haven't seen anyone with that eye color before... He pondered to himself.
Yami could feel those icy blue eyes on him, but didn't dare to turn back to see who they belonged to, though he had a feeling he already knew. What was his name again? Oh yeah, Seto... Yami didn't fret over it since he had more important things to deal with than some new kid staring at the back of his head. As the first warning bell ring, since school hadn't started yet, students began to flood into the room, Yami just now finishing his paper as he gave a sigh, relieved. Once everyone was situated in their seats, Mrs. Ryoto gave a brief introduction of the new student joining them, Seto, before asking everyone to hand in their homework. Yami's writing was a bit sloppy on the paper, but he honestly could've cared less, just so long as she could read it and he got a good grade on it, all was good. However, Yami couldn't help but ponder over Seto... He seemed to have a cold aura about him, but not when they met gazes in that small fraction of a moment. He couldn't really point out what he saw in those eyes, but that was probably because he thought it didn't really concern him. As long as he wasn't a total douchebag and left Yami alone, he was fine with that... He didn't really have very many friends, aside from Marik and Bakura, as well as Yugi's few friends he had, though he never really hung out with them the way his little brother did... Yami and Yugi had a two year age difference, Yugi being the youngest while he was a sophomore and Yami was a senior, also turning eighteen soon. How he couldn't wait for that day to come... However, Yami and Yugi aren't full-blood related, only half. The reason for this is because Yami's mother passed away when he was only one years old, leaving his father to care for him before he remarried soon after. At age two, Yugi was born from his stepmother, hence why the two brothers have different last names. Sure, his stepmother was nice...when he was younger, now she just treats him like some sort of disease, even her own son too! She treats both her son and stepson the same way! Though, their father is no saint either, but that was the last thing Yami wanted to think about. How he dread going home... At least school gave him an outlet to get away from his horrid home life... God, how he hated his life... He felt worthless, useless, like he didn't matter, and like no one would ever love about him, much less care for him... Yami wanted to die some nights, but here he was, still alive and breathing, but he sure as hell wasn't the pinnacle of health either, and he's got the marks to prove it... Good thing it was entering winter soon... This at least gave him an excuse to wear a jacket or long sleeves rather than his bracelets or wrist bands all the time. He just couldn't wait to turn eighteen...
As Seto sat in his seat, he studied Yami. He was relatively tall for his age, lean, and seemed to have a bit of muscles on him, the tight black, long sleeve shirt he was wearing emphasizing this. The shirt had a thin hood that draped on his back, and the sleeves looked to be a bit longer than his arms, but they were pushed back to covered his palms, leaving his fingers exposed. He also wore a pair of tight dark blue jeans with a black belt around his waist and a pair of black and white converse. Seto also took notice to the black leather choker around his neck. Why was he wearing that? He pondered over that thought for a moment, but decided it was probably just for a sense of accessory or something, so he didn't dwell on it and left it alone. Yami had pale, cream colored skin, this most likely being due to the fact he either didn't go into the sun very much or because of all the rain and cloudy skies Domino was notorious for getting very often, or both... The brunette also saw how thin he was, which would probably make most girls envy over the fact that he could eat an entire table full of food and never gain any weight whatsoever. And on top of this, he was also, well...gorgeous. Seto himself had a sort of build as well, though maybe a bit more than Yami. He was very tall for his age, of which he used to care about, though not so much anymore, and he was lean too. He had slight muscles on his pale skinned arms and toned chest, though it was rare he actually worked out; that was just the way he sort of turned out, but again, not that it bothered him any. His skin was rather ghostly pale as well, but that was mostly due to that fact he enjoyed bad weather, which is why he never went out in the sun very often. Seto was also one of those people who could eat a feast, but again, never gain the weight from it. He liked that asset at times, but really never paid it much attention. Seto was also very handsome and dashing. He couldn't remember how many men and woman had gawked over him because of how attractive he is, though maybe that's because he stopped caring. He'd rather people liked him for who he is, not for what he has. But hey, that's what dreams are for, right? However, Seto and Yami are about to learn soon enough it's not what you have that makes you special, but what you are that causes their worlds to get flipped completely upside down.
To say the least, that day seemed...odd, for Yami, though it was just about to get worse. As he absentmindedly walked through the semi-busy corridors of Domino High during lunch hour, he heard a familiar sound, one he wasn't too fond of, but knew all too well – arguing and fighting, of course... Yami gave a sigh, knowing no one was around to stop it, except himself, and since he was already powerless in his own home, he'd rather not feel guilty leaving someone else to feel the same way because again, he knew that feeling all too well. Letting out another sigh, he headed around the corner to find a few sophomores ganging up on what looked to be a freshman, and being a senior, they didn't really scare Yami any. He set his bag down and approached the assholes.
"Hey, guys, that's enough. Leave him alone, alright?"
They all turned to him, the smaller boy trembling in fear with a few bruises forming on his slightly tanned skin from being hit and kicked. "And what the hell are you gonna do? Make us?" The "leader" laughed.
"First off, I'm obviously older than you, so I do have a right to tell you to do something, and second off, I'm also stronger than you. Just leave him alone and quit picking on him already." Yami ordered this time.
The three boys laughed before the middle one (the leader) swung to punch Yami, but he quickly evaded; something he had gotten very good at doing. When the boy stumbled forward, Yami elbowed him in the back, but not too hard as he hit the floor. However, before Yami could react, one of the other two boys managed to nail him in the face. He grunted as he stumbled backwards, throwing a hand over his throbbing left eye; that would certainly bruise soon enough. Yami gave a growl and retaliated, kneeing the boy that punched him in the gut before kneeing the other in the side, but the leader grabbed Yami's foot and yanked it, causing him to hit the floor face first; just another bruise on his jaw now. The leader then managed to flip Yami over before getting ready to sock him in the face, until...
"What in the hell is going on here!?" Someone shouted, everyone looking up to see the principle, Mr. Ichigo. "Fighting is against school rules, Mr. Nagisaka! You three, come with me right now!" He pointed to the three sophomores before gazing at Yami with sympathetic eyes. "Are you alright, Mr. Atem?"
He gave a small nod. "I'm fine." He brushed him off as the principle made his leave.
Yami stood up and dusted himself off before turning to the boy, who was still trembling in fear. The spiky haired teen held a hand out to him, the smaller teen gazing up at him to see the bruising on his left eye and the right side of his jaw. "Are you alright?" Yami asked.
He gave a shaky nod before taking Yami's hand, who helped him back onto his feet. "Th-thank you..." He stammered.
"Don't mention it..." He said a bit sheepishly considering he wasn't used to being thanked, like...ever. "So, umm...what's your name?"
"M-Mokuba..." He answered.
"Mokuba, is it? Well, nice to meet you... I'm Yami."
"Yami..." Mokuba pondered over that name for a moment before smiling. "Your name may mean "darkness," but you sure as heck don't act like it. Thanks, Yami."
"Like I said, don't mention it..."
"We should go to the nurse, huh?" The smaller teen then suggested.
Yami shrugged as he grabbed his bag, Mokuba doing the same as they made their way to the nurse's office. The two walked in silence the whole way there, and when Yami was sure Mokuba was being taken care of, he quietly slipped away. He didn't mind the nurse, but he also didn't like the fact she would be in his face trying to examine his black eye and bruising jaw. Yami decided to just skip sixth period today considering he had a good grade in that class and could easily make up the work, but mostly because he had to get the swelling in his eyes and jaw down, mostly his eye though. Yami couldn't even see out of his left eye anymore because it had swelled so much, so the entire hour, he held a cold towel over his eye, switching to his jaw every once in a while. By the time the hour was up, the swelling in both his eye and jaw had finally gone down, so he could see again, but there was a nasty black and blue ring around his eye, and his jaw was just a small one, so he didn't really care too much about that one. Yami got a few glances as he walked down the hall, heading to his final class, Calculus, but he ignored them, like usual. God, how he hated math class, but at least he was good at it, so that was a good sign, right? His seat was in the far front right-hand corner of the room, which was better than being in the back since that's where his teacher usually pays more attention to because that's where all the troublemakers are. Yami liked where he sat because no one bothered him there. Sure, it was in the front, but they never really paid him much attention since he was always quiet and got his work done, and he was fine with that, fine with being left alone. However, just as he got ready to sit down, a voice called out to him.
"Hey there." He turned around to see none other than Seto Kaiba, whose eyes widened a bit when he saw the noticeably black eye on his face.
"Hi..." Yami said quietly, avoiding his gaze.
"Are you okay? It looks like someone hit you."
He gave a nod. "I'm fine."
Seto could tell Yami wanted to be left alone and only gave him that answer as not to worry him, but he could easily see through that facade – his brother pulled that trick all the time. However, the brunette also know it wasn't wise to push him, not when he barely knew him as it was, so he'd let him have his space. "Alright... Well, I'm Seto."
"Yami..."
"Nice to meet you, Yami." He gave a small grin, Yami blushing ever so slightly. Why did he have that sudden reaction out of nowhere? He didn't even know Seto, yet he was already blushing just by him smiling. Geez... He felt like such a girl...
"You too—"
"Hey, Yami!"
"Oh, God..." He mumbled.
"Hey there, bud!" He got an arm thrown around his shoulder by a male with pale tan colored hair framing lavender colored eyes, smiling happily as a boy with snow white hair spiked up a bit and dark brown eyes sighed.
"Hello, Marik..." Yami greeted quietly.
"Whoa! What happened to your eye!? You look like you got hit by a train!"
"Marik, settle down, it doesn't look that bad." The boy with white hair tried to reason.
"But, Bakura, look at it!"
"I am sure there is a reasonable explanation to this if you just let him—"
"I got into a fight..." Yami spoke up quietly again.
"WHAT!?" Marik exclaimed. "Who is he!? I'll take care of the little bastard!"
"Marik, it's fine..." Yami said. "It was nothing, alright? Just leave it be, please..."
Marik sighed in defeat. "I don't know why you don't let me take care of it, just like your fa—" Marik was cut off as Yami clamped a hand over his mouth.
"Leave it be, Marik, please..." He gave him pleading eyes as he lowered his hand, Marik understanding that look as he gave another sigh in defeat.
"Fine, but if that bastard does something, I'm stepping in, got it? We just want the best for ya, Yami."
"I know... Thanks, guys..."
Ring! Ring! Ring!
The final bell rang as everyone took their seats, Seto just taking the empty seat next to Yami. He wasn't paying him any attention as he just stared out the window he sat next to, wishing he didn't have to go home. When the dismissal bell finally rang though, Yami was up and out the second it rang, heading for his car, until a voice rang out.
"Hey, Yami!"
He cringed slightly, turning to see Mokuba when he noticed Seto walking up to the boy. Mokuba motioned for him to go over to him as he reluctantly agreed. "Hi, Mokuba, Seto..."
"Hmm? You know my brother?" Mokuba asked.
"He's in a couple of my classes..." He said, avoiding eye contact.
"But how do you two know each other?" Seto asked, mostly directed at his brother.
"It was so cool, bro!" Mokuba beamed.
"No it wasn't..." Yami muttered.
"Yeah it was!" The boy retorted. "These bigger kids were being total jerks and picking on me at lunch today, but then Yami stepped in! It was so awesome! One of them went to punch Yami, but he dodged it like a ninja, but then one of those jerks punched him in the face! But he kicked the other two guys butts, until that leader jerk grabbed his foot and made him trip! But then the principle showed up before he could punch Yami and then he took me to the nurse's office. It was so cool, Seto!" Mokuba said excitedly.
Wow... This kid has so much energy... He would certainly give Yugi a run for his money, that's for sure... Yami thought to himself.
Seto turned to Yami with a grateful smile. "Well, thank you for helping my little brother out, Yami. I greatly appreciate it."
"Oh, no, it was nothing, really..." He said a bit shyly. "Well, I gotta go. See ya around..." He then walked off.
"See ya tomorrow, Yami." Seto called after him, but he didn't turn to acknowledge it.
